Roland Ratzenberger - 24 Years Later

— WARNING - THIS POST CONTAINS VIDEOS THAT MAY REQUIRE DISCRETION —

Roland Ratzenberger was an Austrian racing driver who lost his life on this day 24 years ago, in 1994. Born 4th July 1960 in Salzburg, Austria, he began his racing career in German Formula Ford in the mid-1980s, winning the Central European Championship in 1985.

In 1989, he entered the British Formula 3000 Championship, finishing 3rd overall in his debut season. The same year, he also entered into the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Brun Motorsports team and their Porsche 962. He for the following 4 years, with Brun Motorsports once again in 1991, and with the SARD team in 1990, ‘92 and ‘93. His highest finish was in 1993 when he finished 5th in a Toyota 93 C-V.

Ratzenberger’s Formula 1 career began in 1994 at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which was the first round of the season. Driving for the Simtek-Ford team, he wasn’t able to make much of the S941, his car for the season.

Qualifying a mighty 6.745 seconds slower than Ayrton Senna’s pole time of 1:15.962, he wasn’t able to qualify for the race. His teammate, David Brabham, (son of 3-time world champion Jack Brabham) finishing last of the 12 finishers, 4 laps down from the winner,a lesser known 7-time world champion, Michael Schumacher.

Roland’s Formula 1 career was cut dramatically short. He only has one F1 finish to his name, where he finished in 11th, which was also last. This occured at the Pacific Grand Prix, at the TI (Okayama) Circuit in Aida, Japan. This was his second Grand Prix.

His third was the fateful San Marino Grand Prix. The San Marino GP is best known for being the weekend at which 3-time champion, and F1 legend, Ayrton Senna’s was killed in a crash, just the day after Ratzenberger (stay tuned).

Taking place at the Imola circuit within the principality of San Marino, Italy, the 3rd round of the ‘94 season saw Ratzenberger run over the curb at the ‘Acque Minerali’ chicane while on a fast lap. Instead of returning to the pits to get his front nosecone replaced, he stayed out for another fast lap. After exiting the ‘Tamburello’ corner at Turn 1 at nearly 200mph, his front wing failed at ‘Villeneuve Curva’, the next turn after Tamburello.

The failure of the wing caused the car to head towards the opposing concrete barrier. Although the crash structure of the car was near intact, the force of the impact fractured his skull, but not enough to kill him instantly.

The session was Red-flagged as Doctrs attended to him. After being taken to the circuits medical center by ambulance, he was later air lifted to Maggiore hospital. He was the second driver to be admitted that weekend, after Ruben Barrichello just the day before, as mentioned earlier.

Maggiore hospital is where Ratzenberger lost his life later the same day. He was just 33 years of age.

Famous F1 commentator Murray Walker later announced Ratzenberger’s death on TV, there is a clip below.

Roland Ratzenberger was also the first person to be killed on a race weekend since Riccardo Paletti at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix. Roland was also the first to be killed in a Grand Prix car in general since Elio de Angelis died in a testing accident at Paul Ricard in France in 1986.

Rest in peace Roland, the Formula 1 community thinks of you to this day. You are still missed.

Thanks all for reading, drive safe,
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